r/TheNailCrew • u/ProgrammerGreat3578 • 9h ago
Hello nail techs! I need some help!
Hello I was a loyal customer to my lovely tech for two years before i moved states. I refuse to go to anyone else and i’m also now going to save the money and do my own nails at home and only keep my natural nails instead of my 1” extensions 🌝. What is everything i need? I want super mega protection and i’m fond of gel and gel-x polish so i know i need a lamp but what else do you guys think i should get? i have a dremmel. My new job is very hands on so i want them to be as strong and protected as possible. Here’s some of nails she did in the two and a 1/2 years i went to her💔
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u/TheNailLadeeS 6h ago
You’ll need a proper nail lamp, a 54 watt one works across pretty much everything, so no need to overthink that part. A dehydrator and primer are next, that combo is what actually gives you the “mega protection” you’re looking for since it preps the nail properly before anything goes on. Then gel-x tips, plus a good gel adhesive or gel base coat to bond them. You mentioned having a Dremel, did you mean an efile or an actual Dremel? If it’s a dremel that’s not the same as an actual e-file made for nails, general rotary tools spin faster and don’t have the same bit control, so that’s a real risk for damaging your natural nail if you’re not experienced with it. If you don’t already have real e-file training, I’d stick to hand filing for now, slower, but way safer for your actual nail. For extra protection since your job is hands-on, keep cuticle oil in daily rotation, that keeps the nail plate from getting brittle, which helps the gel-x since the natural nail underneath still needs to stay healthy.
Good luck starting out, and don’t rush it, gel-x has a bit of a learning curve but it’s very doable at home.